Engine starter



June 12, 1934. Q MARCUS 1,962,963

ENGINE STARTER Filed Dec. 9, 1925 Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Eclipse Machine Company, Elmira, N. corporation of New York Application December 9, 1925, Serial No. 74,266

19 Claims.

This invention relates to starting apparatus for internal combustion engines and more particularly to starters of the inertia type.

One of the objects of the present invention, is

to provide a simple, eflicient, and reliable starter for internal combustion engines in which the starting operation is performed by the application to the engine for cranking purposes of energy which has been accumulated and stored in a 13 rotating inertia member of the starting apparatus.

Another object is to provide a novel engine starter of the inertia type in which both power and manual means are provided for actuating and storing energy in the inertia member.

15 A further object is to provide a novel power actuated engine starter of the inertia type in which the inertia member and power actuating means therefor may be disconnected at will from the remainder of the starting mechanism.

Another object is to provide a novel engine starting apparatus of the type embodying an inertia member and power means for storingen ergy therein wherein the power means is normally disconnected from the inertia member but adapted for automatic engagement therewith upon energization of said power means.

Still another object is to provide a novel engine starter of the inertia type which is adapted for either power or hand actuation, or both, for the purpose of storing energy in the inertia member, and which is characterized by the provision of means for connecting and disconnecting, at the will of the operator, the inertia member and the manual actuating means whereby the starter may be used either as a hand actuated inertia starter, or as a hand-cranking mechanism directly actuating the engine to be started.

A still further object is to provide a noveland reliable starting apparatus for internal combus- 43 tion engines which may function, at the will of the operator, either as a hand actuated inertia starter,

a power driven inertia starter, or a hand cranking mechanism directly actuating the. engine to be started.

45 As a result of the employment of the means for disconnecting, at the will of the operator, the in ertia member and the power actuating means therefor from the remainder of the starting mechanism, the power means, such as an electric motor, is enabled to rapidly speed up the inertia device, such as a flywheel. to the desired R. P. M. without incurring the load which would be occasioned by the rotation of the drive or transmission including the reduction means. Also, when such disconnecting means is operated, the manual means may be operated without rotating the inertia means, and function as a hand cranking mechanism directly actuating the engine to be started through the medium of a drive including a friction clutch. The automatic connecting means between the power means and the inertia member not only serves to establish a driving relation between these members when the power means is energized, but also allows automatic disconnection when the power means is not in use 5 thereby permitting manual actuation of the inertia means without imposing the additional load constituted by the rotor of the electric motor.

By the manipulation of these various connecting and disconnecting means, different results and'lo advantages may be obtained in the operation of the starting apparatus as will be more fully set forth in the following description of the drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one embodiment is of the present invention taken on an irregular section line in order to show the manual means in horizontal section; and

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the wiring suitable for the starting apparatus of Fig. 1.

Although, one embodiment only of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not to be construed as adefinition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, the starting apparatus disclosed therein comprises a drive proper, including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a rotatable member of the engine to be started, and actuating means for such drive which in the present instance includes reduction gearing, and power means and manual means which may be combined in the same apparatus and may be used separately or conjointly if desired, for the purpose of actuating the inertia member., It will be understood that either one.or the other of 100 these two means may be dispensed with whereupon such apparatus will be operated either wholly by power means, such as an electric motor or dynamo, or wholly by manual means; It will also be understood that the electric machine herein shown may be either an electric motor, or a dynamo electric machine having both motoring and generating functions, although for purposes of the presentidescription and explanation of my invention an electric motor is shown. 110

The starter transmission mechanism includes the drive proper and reduction gearing. The

drive proper includes a transmission means in the form of a friction clutch, and a driving member actuated thereby and adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started. First describing the drive proper, the same is located within the main casing 1 suitably supported as by being detachably connected with the crankcase 2 of the engine, a small portion of which is illustrated. Within a. bushing 3 in the casing there rotates a driving barrel 4 and a shell 5 concentrically arranged therewithin and providing space between them to receive a yield able driving connection which is here in the form of a friction clutch 6. This clutch is composed of two sets of plates or disks that are splined respectively to the interior of the barrel as by splines 6a, and to the exterior of the shell as by splines 6b. The proper pressure for the disks is provided by a. series of springs 7 located in the annular space between barrel 4 and shell 5, and such pressure is regulated by the.adjustable nut 8 screwing onto the outer end of the shell. The thrust of these springs tends to force the shell outwardly whereby the ring 9, seated against a shoulder formed on the inner end of shell 5 by the out-turned ends of splines 6b, clamps the disks together by forcing them against the ring 10 which bears against an annular internal flange 11 within the shell.

The shell 5 is provided with internal, long lead threads 12 in. which is threaded a screw shaft 13 which constitutes the main portionof the driving member whose other principal portion is a clutch member 14 adapted to engage an engine member, such as a corresponding clutch element or jaw 15 forming a part of or secured to a rotatable part of the engine such as the crankshaft 16 thereof. The clutch element 14 is in the form of a disk having clutch jaws 1'7 adapted to engage the complementary jaws 18 on the en gine member, and is provided with a hub or sleeve portion 19 which has a bearing fit within the shell 5 and which has internal longitudinal splines and grooves 20 cooperating with corresponding splines and grooves 21 on the outer end portion of the exteriorof shaft 13, whereby the clutch element 14 and shaft 13 have relative longitudinal movement of limited range independent of each other. The element 14 is held in outward position with a yielding pressure as by means of a coil spring 22 which bears at its outer end against the bottom of sleeve 19 and at its inner ,end'against the bottom of a socket formed in the outer end of the screw shaft.

The outward movement of the element 14 is limited by the head of a rod 23 which passes centrally through the driving member parts and centrally through a hollow shaft 24 which serves both as the main supporting shaft for the reduction gearing and as the driving shaft for the manual operating means, later to be described. This rod 23 is a manually operated rod terminating in a handle 25 at a point exterior of the apparatus, in the present instance being located adjacent the exterior of the casing of the manual actuating means.

In the present instance, for convenience, the rod 23 is made in two sections which are screwed together intermediate its' length and are provided at the point of juncture with a flange 26 to limit the movement of the rod to the left with respect to the screw shaft,-asviewedin Fig. 1. The inner end of the screw shaft is provided with two nuts 27, the one nearest the end of the shaft being a lock nut and the other providing an abutment for the outward movement of the shaft against the shoulder 28 within shell 5.

Next describing the reduction means, the same here consists of gearing contained within main casing 1 and cover plate 1a, by which such gearing is supported and in which it has its bearings. A main stationary internal gear 29 is secured by screws 30 to casing 1, and with the same there meshes a series of three planetary gears or pinions 31 journaled between two parallel plates 32 and 33. These plates are spaced apart by suitable lugs 34 and held together by screws 35. The inner plate 33 is drivably connected with the barrel 4 by any suitable means such as a flange 36, formed integrally with plate 33'and having peripheral grooves therein which interlock with the splines 6a of the barrel.

The planetary gears 31 mesh with a central pinion or sun gear 39 which, as shown and by preference, is formed as a part of the hub 40 of a gear 41 mounted to rotate freely about shaft 24 upon a bushing 42. This gear 41 meshes v with a pinion 43 which, as shown and by preference,'is formed upon the hub 44 of a bevel gear 45 mounted to rotate freely about shaft 46 upon a bushing 47.

Manually operated actuating means are provided which are adapted for either rotating the inertia member and storing energy therein through the medium of the reduction gearing, or for cranking the engine to be started directly through the drive proper, comprising the shaft 24, the .left hand end of which is operatively connected with the plate 33 by meansof pins 37 engaging splines 38 provided in the interior of a hub formed integrally with the plate 33. The right hand end of shaft 24 is journaled in a bearing 48 in casing plate 1a, and extends therethrough, a bevel pinion 49 being secured to its projecting end. This bevel pinion forms a part of the manual actuating means and extends into a small casing 50 secured in any suitable manner to plate 1a. Such manual means also comprises a cranking shaft 52 extending extraneous of casing 50- and thereat provided with suitable means suchas pins 53 for engagement with an ordinary hand crank. This shaft 52 is jcurnaled in ball bearings 54 within casing 50 and held in proper position longitudinally by nut 55 and sleeve 56. This shaft is provided at its inner end with a bevel pinion 57 meshing with corresponding pinion-49. It will be understood that casing 50 actually extends at right angles to casing 1, but is shown as rotated through 90 to bring it into the same plane in order to illustrate it clearly without additional figures in the drawing.

Describing the inertia means, the same here comprises a flywheel and operating connections with the bevel gear 45 and with the prime mover or power means, which is here an electric motor, such inertia means being contained within and supported by a casing 58 secured to casing 1 in any suitable manner as by bolts 59. The flywheel comprises a rim 60, a web 61 and a hub 62. This hub is drivably secured, as by splining, to a vertical shaft 63 which is journaled in the bearings 64 in casing 58. The flywheel is held in proper position on shaft 63 and with respect to its bearings by nut 65. v

The means for automatically connecting and disconnecting the motor from the flywheel comprises a clamping member consisting of a shell or inverted cup 66 having a central screwthreaded hub portion 67 which is threaded upon a screw-thread 68 formed upon or applied to the extended armature shaft 69 of an electric motor '70. The outer or lower end 71 of the armature shaft, beyond such screw-threaded portion, extends downwardly into a socket '72 acting as .a bearing for such end of the shaft. By preference, a light spring 66a is interposed between the member 66 and the web 61 of the flywheel.

The means for connecting and disconnecting the power and inertia means from the remainder of the starting mechanism, at the wi l of the operator, comprises a pinion 63a meshing with gear 45 of the reduction means, and means including a clutch of the friction type interposed between pinion 63a. and shaft 63 of the inertia means, and placed under the control of the operator through suitable operating connections or I levers. Pinion 63a is provided with an upwardly extending shell portion 200 to whose inner surface is operatively connected as by splining the telescoping shell portion201 of the movable member 202 of the friction c'utch, such shell 201 having a sliding fit with respect to shell 200 and a bearing member 203 interposed between it and the shaft 63. The shell 200 and the movable member 202 of the clutch are held in extended position with a yielding pressure as by means of an interposed coil spring 204. The movable member of the clutch has an outer concentric shell portion 205 which is externaly grooved to receive the shipper ring or yoke 206 of a lever 20'? extending through and pivoted upon the casing 1. An operating rod- 208 which is manipulated by the operator extends to some convenient position for use.

The other member 209 of the clutch is secured to shaft 63 in any suitable manner as by splines 210, and a nut 212.

In the present instance, the normal condition of the clutch is closed by reason of the pressure of the spring 204 and a spring 211 upon lever 207, but when the operator pulls upwardly upon rod 208, the movable member 202 of the clutch wil be moved downwardly against the tension of the spring 204 and the clutch will thereby be opened, and the driving relation between the motor and flywheel, and the reduction gearing will be disestablished and will remain so until the operator releases his pressure upon the lever 207.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a diagram of the wiring connections and electrical elements suitable for employment with the structure of Fig. 1, according to which M represents the motor, S the starting switch, B the storage battery, and G the battery charging generator, not otherwise shown but adapted to be driven by the engine for charging'the battery, the grounds being shown in the usual conventional manner. I

Describing a cycle of operation of the starting apparatus and beginning first with the utilization of the power means or electric motor as the source of energy, and with the parts in their normal position as shown in Fig. l in which the clutch elements 14 and 15 are disengaged, whenthe motor is'energized and the armature shaft is thereby rapidly rotating, the cup member 66 wi'l be automatically moved downwardly into clamp ing and driving engagement with the flywheel .whereby the latter will partake of the rotation of the motor. The flywheel being drivably connected with the shaft 63, the latter together with the gearing and transmission will be rotated. The

flywheel is consequently rapidly rotated and when,

its R. P. M. reaches a predetermined figure, such as in practice-from 15,000 to 20,000, the current may, if desired, be switched off from the electric motor, and the rod 23 manually moved inwardly, that is, to the left in Fig. 1. The screw shaft 13 and its clutch element 14 are moved longitudinally and the latter is brought into engagement with the engine clutch element 15, and the engine is thereby cranked through the drive by means of the flywheel, and such rotation wil continue so long as there is suflicient energy left in the flywheel for that purpose.

When the engine starts on its own power, excess speed of rotation of the engine and its clutch element 15 will cause the screw shaft 13 and its clutch element 14 to be retracted by the screw unnecessary and of some detriment to rotate the reduction means and drive proper during the stage of speeding up the flywheel, and consequenty it is desirable, and my present construction makes it possible, to eliminate the reduction means and drive proper from the rotative effort of the motor with the consequent result that the flywheel may be speeded up quickly and with less expenditure of time. Therefore, at the beginning of the starting operation, the operator will first declutch pinion 63a from shaft 63 as previously explained, and then will dose the starting switch whereupon the motor will be rapidly rotated and automaticcally the connecting member 66 will operate to drivingly connect the armature shaft with the flywheel with the result that the flywheel will aso partake of the rapid rotation of the motor. When the desired R. P. M. of the flywheel is reached, the operator will permit the friction clutch to close Ill) and will operate the rod 23 in the manner hereinbefore explained whereby the energy stored up in the rapidly rotating flywheel-wil be transmitted to the engine to crank the same. The drive will be automatically disconnected from the engine when the engine starts of its own power the automatic clamping member 66 operating as hereinbefore described.

Next describing the mode of operation when the manual means is the source of energy, the friction clutch between pinion 63a and shaft 63 is closed and then a hand crank is applied to shaft 52 and rotated by the operator until the flywheel reaches the desired or predetermined R. P. M. In this operation, the torque is transmitted from shaft 52, through pinions 57 and 49 to shaft 24 and thence through pins 37 and splines 38 to the frame 33 of the planetary pinions 31, the gears 40 and 45 and pinion 63a, and thence through the friction clutch to the shaft 63 and finally to flywheel 60. When the manual means is thus the source of energy, there will be no clamping action between the (motor and flywheel because by reason ,of rotation of the flywheel by the manual means, the clamping mem- J with the web of the flywheel. Consequently, the motor is automatically disconnected from the flywheel and will thereupon remain idle. This is of advantage inasmuch as the considerable load occasioned by the pressure of the brushes 74, as well as any friction in the motor bearings, is eliminated from the operation of speeding up the flywheel. This load is considerable at the cranking shaft because it ismultiplied many times through the reduction gearing. The flywheel having now been rotated to the proper speed, rod 23 is operated for causing engagement of the drive with the engine in the manner above explained. The engine will now be cranked and the drive will be thereafter disconnected automatically when the engine operates under its own power, all in the same manner as has been explained.

There is thus provided a novel engine starter which is simple, efiicient and particularly reliable due to the provision of both power and manual actuating means. The starter herein disclosed will not only function as an'inertia starter, either power or manually actuated, but will" also serve as a hand cranking mechanism directly actuating the engine to be started. Means have been provided for disconnecting the inertia member and its actuating motorfrom the re-. A .mainder of the starting mechanism whereby the inertia member may be speeded up to the desired number of R. P. M. without the necessity of at the same time rotating the reduction means and the drive proper. A further novel feature resides in the provisionof an automatic clutch interposed between the motor and the inertia member whereby these two members are drivably connected only when the motor is energized, and this allows the inertia member to be actuated by hand without the imposition of theadditional load afforded by the rotor of the motor and the brush pressure. w

It will be obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific form described and illustrated in the drawing, but is capable of a variety of mechanical embodiments. Various changes, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may be \made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and reference is therefore to be had to the' appended claimsfor a definition of the limits of the invention.

I claim: I

1. An engine starter apparatus including an engine engaging member adapted to crank a member of the engine to be started, reduction mechanism operatively connected with the en- 7 gine engagingfmember and including a driving pinion, an inertia device connected substantially directly with'said pinion, manual means for energizing said inertia device, said energizing means being operable through the instrumentality, of the, reduction mechanism, and means.

interposed between said inertia device and pinion ior rendering said manual energizing means ineffective.

-2. An engine starter apparatus including a drive comprising transmission means and an engine-engaging member, reduction mechanism operatively connected with the transmission means including a driving pinion, a shaft on which the driving pinion is freely mounted, man- 'ually operable meansfor accelerating said shaft,

said manually operable means including said transmission means and a second relatively low 1 the inertia device from the reduction mechanism at the will of the operator.

4. An engine starter apparatus including a drive including an engine engaging member, a rotatable inertia device operatively connected with said drive, reduction mechanism between the inertia device and drive, an electric motor having an armature shaft, said reduction mechanism including a pinion and a drive shaft in which the armature shaft bears and on which the inertia device is mounted, and a clutch interposed between said drive shaft and pinion to control the operative connection between the drive shaft and pinion.

5. An engine starter apparatus including a drive including an engine engaging member, a rotatable inertia device operatively connected with said drive, reduction mchanism between the inertia device and drive, an electric motor having an armature shaft, said reduction mechanism including a pinion and a drive shaft in which the armature shaft bears and on which the inertia device is mounted, a manually operated clutch controlling the operative connection be tween the drive shaft and pinion, and an automatic connecting means between the/motor and the inertia device.

6. Engine starting apparatus including transmission means and an engine engaging member actuated thereby, reduction mechanism operatively connected to said transmission means, an inertia device connected substantially directly with said reduction mechanism, manual means connected with said inertia device and operating through the instrumentality of said reduction mechanism to energize said inertia device, and means under the control of the operator for disconnecting the inertia device from said reduction mechanism.

7. Engine starting apparatus including transmission means, a rotatable inertia device, re-

duction mechanism operatively connected with said transmission means, means operating through the instrumentality of said reduction mechanism for accelerating said inertia device, and means including a normally engaged clutch for disconnecting said reduction mechanism from said inertia device at will.

8. Engine starting apparatus including transmission means, a rotatable inertia device, reduction mechanism operatively connected with said transmission means, means operating through the instrumentality of said reduction mechanism for accelerating said inertia device, and means including a manually operable friction clutch for disconnecting said' reduction mechanism from said inertia device at will.

9. An engine starter apparatus including a drive, a rotatable inertia device operatively connected with said drive, reduction mechanism between the inertia' device and drive, a prime mover having an actuating shaft, a drive shaft in which said actuating shaft bears, one end of said drive shaft being secured to said inertia device, and

means disposed at the other end of said drive shaft for controlling the operative connection of said reduction mechanism with said drive shaft.

10. In a device of the class described, an inertia element and energizing means therefor, said energizing means comprising a pair of coaxially disposed clutch devices, one of which is yieldably connected and the other positively connected to said inertia element, a; prime mover, and a pair of telescopically mounted shafts connecting said prime mover with both'said clutch devices.

11. In a device of the class described, an inertia element and energizing means therefor, said energizing means comprising a pair of coaxially disposed clutch devices, one of which is normally disconnected and the other normally connected to said inertia element, a prime mover, and a pair of telescopically mounted elements connecting said prime mover with both said clutch devices.

12. In a device of the class described, an inertia element and energizing means therefor, said energizing means comprising a prime mover disposed on one side of said inertia element, and a' gear train on the other side thereof, a friction clutch normally connecting said gear train with said inertia element, and a second friction clutch operable in response to energization of said prime mover to drivably connect the latter with both said inertia element and said first named clutch.

13. In a device of the class described, an inertia element and energizing means therefor, said energizing means comprising a prime mover disposed on one side of said inertia element, and a gear train on the other side thereof, a clutch normally connecting said gear train with said inertia element, and a second clutch operable in response to energization of said prime mover to drivably connect the latter with both said inertia element and said first named clutch.

14. In a device of the class described, an inertia,

element and energizing means therefor, .said energizing means comprising a prime mover disposed on one side of said inertia element, and a gear train on the other side thereof, a friction clutch normally connecting said gear train with said inertia element, and a second friction clutch operable to drivably connect the prime mover with both said inertia element and said gear train.

15. In an engine starter of the inertia type, a flywheel constituting the inertia element of the starter, and means for energizing said flywheel,

axially disposed clutch devices, a prime mover,

said energizing means comprising a pair of coaxially disposed clutch devices, a prime mover, and means connecting said prime mover, flywheel and clutch devices for unitary rotation.

16. In an engine starter of the inertia type, a flywheel constituting the inertia element of the starter, and means for energizing said flywheel, said energizing means comprising a pair of coaxially disposed clutch devices, a prime mover and means including a pair of telescopically mounted shafts connecting said prime mover, flywheel and clutch devices for unitary rotation.

17. In an engine starter of the inertia type, a flywheel constituting the inertia element of the starter, and means for energizing said flywheel, said energizing means comprising a pair of coaxially disposed clutch devices, a prime mover, and means connecting said prime mover, flywheel and clutch devices for unitary rotation, saidlast named means comprising a pair of shafts one of which has an end portion secured to the hub of said flywheel, and the other of which has a central portion to which one of said clutch devices is secured.

18. In an engine starter of the inertia type, a 100 flywheel constituting the inertia element of the starter, and means for energizing said flywheel, said energizing means comprising a pair of coaxially disposed clutch devices, a prime mover, and means connecting said prime mover, flywheel 10*; andclutch devices for unitary rotation, said last named means comprising a pair of shafts, one of which has an end portion secured to the hub of said flywheel, and the other of which has an end portion rotatable within said first named shaft.

19. In an engine starter of the inertia type, a flywheel constituting the inertia element of the starter, and means for energizing said flywheel, said energizing means comprising a pair of comeans connecting said prime mover, flywheel and clutch devices for unitary rotation, said last named means comprising a pair of shafts one of which has an end portion secured to the hub of said flywheel and the other of which has a central portion to which one of said clutch devices is-se-- cured, and means surrounding said hub for maintaining said last named clutch device normally out of engagement with said flywheel.

- CHARLES MARCUS. 

